26.07.02: Netherlands: Public
Consultation Concerning 'Space For The River' Project

The initial public consultation round concerning the
'Ruimte voor de Rivier' ('Space for the River') project was completed
in the Netherlands at the end of June. Interested parties were able
to respond to the plans for the reorganisation of the Rhine-Meuse
delta (i.e. the area traversed by the Rhine/Meuse/Waal rivers). These
plans must ensure that local safety is maintained at the level laid
down by law. Ultimately the Dutch part of the Rhine must be capable
of handling a water discharge of 16,000 m3 per second at Lobith. Since
the measures have consequences for the environment and the residential,
working and living environment of residents in the vicinity of the
rivers, the procedure adopted provides for public consultation at
set points. German stakeholders in the border area were also able
to indicate their response. The Dutch government is expected to finalise
arrangements for the project in 2005; the project is scheduled to
be completed in 2015. More information (in Dutch) at http://www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl

24.07.02 :
63 Dams Slated for Removal in 2002

WASHINGTON, DC, July 23, 2002 (ENS) -
A record number of dams - 63 dams in 15 states and the District of
Columbia - are scheduled for removal in the 2002 calendar year, says
the conservation group American Rivers. The nation's aging dam infrastructure,
combined with a growing appreciation of the ecological impacts of
dams, provided the impetus for the growing movement to remove unneeded
dams, says American Rivers, which has been tracking planned dam removals
since 1999. About 40 dams have been removed since 1999 when the breaching
of Edwards Dam on Maine's Kennebec River captured national attention.
Another milestone was reached in October of 2001, when conservationists
celebrated the completion of a series of dam removals that restored
115 miles of the Wisconsin's Baraboo River, the longest stretch of
river ever returned to free flowing condition in America. "It's an
exciting trend for our nation's rivers," said Elizabeth Maclin, director
of American Rivers' Rivers Unplugged program.

"The number of voluntary dam removals is clearly accelerating as the
word gets out about the ecological and economic benefits." The dams
slated for removal this year represent a small fraction of the dams
in place across the country. There are about 75,000 dams taller than
six feet high and many thousands of smaller obstructions. The vast
majority of the dams were built to run mills, control floods and create
municipal and agricultural water supplies; less than three percent
generate hydroelectricity. While dams can provide valuable services,
American Rivers argues that they come at a price - dams drown valuable
habitat under reservoirs, block the annual migrations of fish, and
can create downstream conditions that cannot support native fish and
wildlife. As dams age, their benefits often diminish while maintenance
costs and safety hazards increase.

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates that about
30 percent of America's dams have reached the end of their useful
lives. "Many dams have outlived their intended purpose and no longer
provide any economic benefit," said Leon Szeptycki, eastern conservation
director for Trout Unlimited. "Many communities have looked at their
local dams and realized the dams provide virtually no benefits. Communities
that do look at dam removal soon learn that a healthy river can enhance
quality of life and be a tremendous economic asset." "In Wisconsin,
dam removal is, on average, three to five times less expensive than
dam repair. And if you're a small town or an individual owner, that
price difference can be the straw that breaks the dam's back," explained
Helen Sarakinos, small dams program manager for the River Alliance
of Wisconsin.
Source: http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-23-09.asp#anchor4
(via IRN (International Rivres Network, Berkeley / USA )

The world's largest aluminum company, Alcoa Inc., the government of
Iceland, and Landsvirkjun, Iceland's national power company have signed
a deal to build a large aluminium smelter and hydropower development
in eastern Iceland. The pact, signed Friday, drew immediate condemation
from WWF, the conservation organization. texte complet :
http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-23-03.asp

22.07.02:
Russian Waterways Become A Part Of The E Inland Waterway Network

In less than two months, on 29 August 2002, the navigable
rivers of the Russian Federation will formally and officially become
an integral part of the European inland waterway network established
in the UNECE European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International
Importance (AGN). This is the result of the recent approval by the
Russian Government of this Agreement. The number of countries engaged
in the development of a homogeneous European inland waterway network,
according to the uniform conditions set up in the Agreement, has grown
to thirteen and include: Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Hungary;
Italy; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Republic of Moldova; Romania;
Russian Federation; Slovakia and Switzerland. Five other countries
(Austria, Finland, France, Germany and Greece) that signed the AGN
are also expected to become Contracting Parties to it soon.
This international Agreement, done by all European countries in Geneva
in the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE), identifies the main international inland waterway links in
Europe and establishes uniform infrastructure and operational parameters
to which they should conform.
Full press release at http://www.unece.org/press/pr2002/02trans05e.htm

The four NGOs Daphne (Slovak Republic), Distelverein
(Austria), Veronica (Czech Republic), and the WWF-International Danube
Carpathian Programme are being rewarded for their work to ensure sustainable
use and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the floodplains
of the Morava (March) and Dyje (Thaya) rivers.complete
Press Release (WWF intl) english

15.07.02 : Enthusiastic celebration of the
Elbe river. Between 80 0000 and 100 000 people for the first International
Elbe Swimming Day.

Hamburg/Radolfzell, 15 July 2002.
Between 80 000 and 100 000 people took part in the first International
Elbe Swimming Day on 14th July 2002.
Celebrations have been organized in 52 towns between the source of
the Elbe in the Czech Giant Mountains to the mouth of the river in
the North Sea. 6 000 people respond to the call and took a bath in
the Elbe, which then became, during this day, the longest European
beach. Inhabitants, people on holidays as well as the political representatives
of the different towns were enthusiastic and moved to see that the
water quality now allow people to swim again in the Elbe river.

The initiator of this event, the German organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe,
together with the publishing house Gruner+Jahr (Project Living Elbe)
and many other partners had been planning this day for two years.
"We are so happy to see this enthousiasm, this large number of people
that are taking part in this celebration.", says Dr. Harald Kaechele,
leader of the Deutsche Umwelthilfe.
The organizers had prepared numerous activities for the celebration
of the Elbe river in the heart of Germany : bathing fashion parade,
boat races, etc, everything that could be linked with the water spirit.
In Hitzacker, a pastor baptized four children.

In Dresde, 500 swimmers crossed a 3,2 km stretch of
the river with 10 000 visitors, in Schönebeck by Magdeburg more than
350 people swan from one bank to the other. In Drochtersen, near the
river mouth, 7000 took part to a horse race. Old people who went bathing
had not done so for several decades and it reminded them many childhood
memories.

"We would like to thank all the people who cooperated to make this
first International Elbe Swimming Day so big a success" said Dr. Maria
Hoffacker, chief officer of the environmental department of the publishing
house Gruner+Jahr "all the local authorities, NGOs and organisations,
the German DLRG was responsible for security and the public health
authorities provided water quality analysis. Thanks also to all the
sponsors that showed their enthousiasm for the Elbe river."

Angelica Jahr, Gruner+Jahr board member declared : "People discovered
their river again. We should repeat this celebration each year." The
echoes in the media were also very impressing. The Norddeutsche Rundfunk,
broadcasted several hours programmes country wide and almost all local
papers put the Elbe day on their front page.

Roberto Epple, the "Living Elbe" project leader was delighted to see
that "the Elbe Swimming day made an impressive advertisement for the
river. This dirty and dangerous river has become a nature paradise
in a beautiful landscape. The impetus created by this event is a good
basis to promote the Elbe region, this unique habitat for human and
nature"

Presserelease : Hamburg / Dresden : A few years ago, the Elbe river
was one of the most polluted river in Europe. Since the reunification
of Germany, millions of euros have been spent on a wide restoration
programme, including the building of more than 200 water treatment
units : what used to be a sewer has turned into a river in which one
can swim. To celebrate this event, more than 10,000 people are expected
to gather on a 1,000 km stretch of the Elbe river, on more than 50
swimming spots from the North Sea (Ham-burg) to the Elbe source in
the Giant Mountains (Czech Republic) on 14th July 2002 at 2 PM.
complet text of the Pressrelease (pdf)more information (Background
and more)